Monrovia – Following a protracted period of its inactivity, the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) has inducted its leadership with a call to get prepare for the next Press Union leadership.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo/ [email protected]
Madam Vivian Bhatti said it is time that female journalists strive on taking the mantle of authority so as to stir the affairs of the union.
Those inducted were Siatta Scot-Johnson, Coordinator; Winnie Saywah Jimmy, Vice Coordinator and Antoinette Sendolo, Secretary General.
The Guest Speaker Bhatti challenged FeJAL that in terms of changing women’s roles in the society, female journalists are to gain confidence around their strength and recognize their weaknesses adding, “You have major issues all around us and you can’t keep silent.
“You have a lot of power in terms of engaging people in bringing transformation in the society. Your decision to organize FeJAL is not to have a female portion in the Press Union,” she said.
“That is not enough or not to say we formed this group to talk about women’s issues, so because you are women you have to talk about women’s issues; that is not enough.”
“You have to recognize that within this group there are people with different skills and different kinds of power; power around resources and knowledge whether academic or otherwise.”
She said with experience members, the association has to harness all of that to be a part of that change that is going to happen in Liberia.
She furthered stressed that working together require sincerity and urged members of the union to be sincere and be unity in their undertaking.
Madam Bhatti said though there are challenges, FeJAL should prioritize excelling in the media and develop strength.
She hailed the association for the unveiling of the construction of headquarters and promised to work with the leadership to complete the project.
The new coordinator of FeJAL, Madam Scott describing the shape in the association as historic stressed the need for female journalists to turn their opportunities to educational challenges.
She said the leadership is ready to move forward with sincerity.
“I believe that the profession calls us to fan the fire of integrity coupled with tremendous power we have in us as such that we will achieve things beyond what we can dream of today.”
“As we are sworn in today we have a special obligation to make the dream of ach of the member in this room a reality, this is a challenging work that we must commit to by our acceptance to take the lead in moving this association forward and not only building the headquarter, but also creating an inclusive membership based on association.”
Madam Scott said the leadership seeks partnership, there are 3 things that FejaL is good at – “What is that we can be passionate about, what is that fuels our resource engine, what is that we are good at and passionate about, that we need to define as a group.”
“I believe we can assemble the resources we need to fuel or engine our growth ith qualify experience that people are eager to invest where they see opportunities return.”
She said FeJAL is a place where the returns are indeed priceless.
Members of the association were dressed in Blue as the entire hall was also Blue and silver.
The unveiling of the headquarter plan was supported by several stakeholders including Gender and Social welfare minister, Julia Duncan Cassell, Senate Pro-tempore Armah Jallah and Montserrado Senator George Weah and others.
At least over US$7,000 was raised during the structure unveiling.
Meanwhile, several veteran female journalists were honored including Weade Kobbah Wureh, Maureen Sieh, Victoria Raffell, Elizabeth Hoff, Mildred Dean and Davidetta Brown Lassana and others.
FeJAL was founded in 1998 by few female journalists as an auxiliary of the press union of Liberia that would report on women’s issue and other issues affecting women in the media.